I found this to be average. Dawn is a law student who had a fling with Callan during her summer program in London. Except they were going to make it more than a fling and from Dawn’s perspective Callan chickened out. From Callan’s perspective, he has trauma he needs to get professional help for. Of course, they eventually cross paths again at Dawn’s fancy law firm job and because people like to meddle, Dawn and Callan are thrown back together. I think the fling portion was done well, it was the actual romantic couple portions that I found unbelievable. They were the couple that broke up and got back together five billion times. It was annoying to have the same thing happen multiple times. Additionally, Dawn has a best friend, Jane, who wants to marry the love of her life and pop out babies which Dawn accepts but wonders why Jane does not want more. I would have liked the back-and-forth to be done differently in terms of the relationship and for the commentary about Jane’s life choices to be a bit nicer.

Butterflies, sad tears, chemistry, happy tears, international adventures and the best found family in their corners. . .Dawn and Callan's romance is a bit of a roller coaster right from their meet cute, through the 3rd act before finally getting to the HEA. And y'all I was so invested and their story hit me in alllll the feels. The sweet moments, the emotional moments, the heart wrenching moments and the grand gesture moment 🥰🫠😭🫠😍, I was here for all of it, it was just SO good.


Thank you Netgalley and The Wild Rose Press for the ARC in exchange for my review!

Just a Fling is a second-chance romance between law student Dawn Mathison and British developer Callan Marlowe. Dawn meets Callan while an exchange student in England and they have a whirlwind summer romance. The reader is soon aware that Callan, while captivated by Dawn, has secrets, and is suffering from angst and guilt. Dawn thinks the relationship is going somewhere, but at the end of the summer, he lets her go.

They meet again a year later in New York City at the law firm where Dawn is interning while she awaits her boards. Callan is there for a meeting regarding his solar development business and when they are thrown together on a business trip to Spain, their relationship heats up once again.

This book had all the ingredients for a second-chance, on-again, off-again romance. The characters had great chemistry and it was spicy. There was also a lot of angst on both sides, but it got to be a little too much for me at times. The characters could also be tiresome; Callan couldn’t make up his mind, but he wouldn’t get help for his issues. Dawn was a pushover with Callan but did stand up for herself later. All in all, this was a decent debut novel for the author, and I enjoyed it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press for the opportunity to read it in exchange for my honest opinion. I gave it three stars.

OK read that felt very new adult, in that it tried to go further and emotionally deeper (getting over trauma). For sure, you're rooting for our main characters but there's nothing new to this genre or writing, just mediocre enjoyment.

This was a cute book. It definitely had the feel that it was the authors's first book. It was very bland without much heat. Not a book i would recommend for people to read, but was still yet a cute first book.

This was such a good read. I read it in one sitting. What a rollercoaster of emotions this took me on.

GENERAL INFO

Year Pub: 4/5/23

Date read: 5/22/23

Format: Kindle

Source: e-ARC- I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Page Count: 278

Setting: NY

Genre: Rom-Com, Contemporary Romance

Tropes: 2nd chance romance, office romance, enemies to lovers

Standalone/Cliffhanger/Part of a Series: standalone

HEA/HFN ending: HEA

Epilogue Included: yes, 2 years later

Character(s)POV Spoken: H Callan and h Dawn-alternating chapters and timelines

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Synopsis/Plot Summary: Dawn Mathison is a law student working at one of the most prestigious firms-White & Halston LLP. She is driven to be the best, but things aren't going too well. Not to mention, in walks the man who broke her heart with no explanation-Callan Marlowe. A twist of fate have them working together. Will Dawn give him another chance or protect her heart and forget him?

M/F-M/M-M/M/F-etc: M/F

Representation: law students and lawyers

Flashbacks: yes, the story goes back and forth between the previous year in England where Dawn and Callan met to their current relationship.

Jealy/Possy/OTT H/h : Callan is jealous of Kurt-an associate lawyer at the firm who likes Dawn.

Amount of Sex In The Book: enough

Overall Smex Rating: 3

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION

Hero: Callan Marlowe

Hero Description: 30, British solar developer w/ his own business Green Solar. He had a summer fling w/ Dawn. Comes to her law firm for investors meeting. He doesn't do relationships, marriage, or kids since "the incident" with his ex-wife.

Hero Likability Rating: 3

Heroine: Dawn Mathison

Heroine Description: 25, from Alabama, currently a law student working at a firm she hates. Callan broke up w/ her a year ago and has made no contact since.

Heroine Likability Rating: 4

Secondary characters:
Jane-Dawn's bff, still lives in AL w/ bf Todd
Mr. White-Dawn's boss
Gemma-chief legal office @Green Solar. Callan's friend
Bill White Sr.-Started the firm Dawn and Callan are working at
Will and Sarah-Callan's childhood friends getting married

AUTHOR OVERVIEW
Katherine Grace
New or read before & any favorites: new author

PERSONAL OVERVIEW

Overall Rating: 4*

Do You Recommend This Book: yes

Will You Re-read This Book: yes

Would You Read More Books by this Author: yes

I agree with what others have said in that you are told what happens more than actually going through the process. The premise was good but the execution was lackluster

What can I say that hasn't been said? A Second chance romance that you cannot put down! This one is totally worth your time. it is all that you would expect from this genre. Lots of heart and ups and down...but just lovely

She’s in England for her student exchange program in law when she has a meet cute.
He’s a super tall, hunky Brit that has her swooning from the start. But he can’t commit, his past has secrets that have his mind screaming “it’s just a fling” but he can’t get her out of his mind even when she returns to NYC.

A beautiful story about tragic loss and second chances. You will be mesmerized with this truly addictive steamy romance. It’s very hard to put this book down, a must read romance.
I love love loved it!

Just finished this one and had to write a review right away! (I still have some other reviews to write).

Loved, loved, loved this book! I might be a little biased because of the lawyer theme, but honestly that wasn’t even a major plot in the book. Well, kinda is, kinda not.

Dawn and Callan were perfect for each other from the moment they met! Obviously like any romance novel they have to go through some things…(who wants to read a romance novel with no drama?) but they come out the other side stronger together.

Dawn has always wanted to be the best at everything. She is a second year law student spending the summer in the UK studying law to gain some edge over her competition in law school (darn you Mae-Lin!) What she doesn’t expect is to run into (literally) the most amazingly handsome Brit Callum Marlowe.

Dawn’s summer turns into a whirlwind love affair with Callum, but he’s got his own secrets, which eventually tear them apart.

Fate is funny and keeps throwing them together.

Dawn was heartbroken after her summer ended and she left the UK to return to DC to work for White & Halston. Her only worries now are passing the bar and landing an associates position to start paying off her student loans….but….

She can’t stop thinking about a certain Brit….and then who should end up in the very office that Dawn is working at…..

Can they rekindle what was left of their romance? Can Callum open up and share his secrets?

Read and find out!!

Seriously, sitting at work and I can stop thinking about this book.

"Just a Fling" by Katherine Grace is a compelling exploration of love, loss, and second chances. Following Dawn Mathison, a bright law student, and Callan Marlowe, a charming British solar developer, the narrative is beautifully crafted with dual POV, oscillating between past and present timelines. While the change in perspective mid-chapter took some getting used to, it added a layer of depth to both characters and their struggles.

The romantic spark between Dawn and Callan is compelling and complicated, with a past summer fling turning into something more substantial when fate brings them back together. Grace's portrayal of Callan's past trauma was particularly poignant, adding a layer of complexity to his character that was both frustrating and endearing. His journey toward healing and acceptance was profoundly moving.

The characters' professional and personal development was seamlessly woven into the narrative, giving their romance a grounded and authentic feel. Dawn's strength and determination were admirable, and her evolution from a fling to a pillar of support for Callan was wonderfully portrayed. Grace doesn't shy away from the heavier aspects of life, deftly balancing the light-hearted banter and flirtation with more serious themes.

But what set "Just a Fling" apart for me was the depth of emotion and realism injected into the narrative. From the vibrant descriptions of Cambridge to the bustling energy of NYC, the settings were atmospheric and evocative. The thoughtful integration of mental health issues also added a unique dimension to the story without overshadowing the romance.

"Just a Fling" is a well-rounded and engrossing read that goes beyond the traditional romance novel. With endearing characters, an engaging plot, and a thoughtful exploration of deeper themes, it's an enjoyable journey. Thank you, NetGalley, Wild Rose Press, and Katherine Grace, for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I love the cover - very discreet and caters well to romance book readers. As I began reading the book, my interest was peeked. I wanted to know more about Dawn and Callahan's history. I wanted to know what transpired within the two of them that led to the animosity readers are first introduced to. However, just as I was starting to learn more about the characters, the plot began to take a turn into a flashback of their relationship. Except, I felt all I was reading was cringey dialogue and being told what happened between the characters. I think most readers appreciate being shown the characters, their lifestyles, their personalities, and their thoughts. This felt more like telling the reader that "x happened, y was there, z looked like this." While this is not a negative aspect, it tends to become redundant for readers. Additionally, the flashback portion of the book did not entail much storyline, in my honest opinion. I felt that I was simply reading about their sex adventures instead of learning more about their relationship as a whole -- nothing wrong with this if you wanted it to be just a sexual relationship. However, I felt that the vibe I got in the beginning of the novel was that the characters are in love/falling for each other and want to explore that in more and better detail. I think that some scenes could have been cut in order to move the story along. Overall, I was excited for this novel and would love to read something else by the author, but think that it might help to tweak the flow of the plot, the content, and developing mature characters that are described, not told to the readers. I hope my feedback helps the author in the future and looking forward to reading more from them as I think they have a great opportunity to creating a story-line but just need to work on establishing and continuing that plot effectively.

I was instantly hooked to this book, from the beginning. Callan and Dawn have instant connection and fire.... then when her summer is up with a summer abroad things do not go as planned without any notes or explanation. Fast forward Dawn is in board room entering a meeting and comes face to face with Callan 1 year later. da da da......
The connection is still there but the hurt is lingering.... can Dawn continue with a fling or turn her back for good?
highly recommend!
4.5 stars

what a pure delight this book was!! it was just so much fun to read. the characters were charming and full of heart. i adored this and will be adding it to my shelves so soon!! thank you so much netgalley!!

I personally feel like this book feel completely flat for me & that may be because the second chance love trope is not for me.

I did not enjoy the Callen or Dawn & feel that there just was not enough there redeeming either one of them. I was not rooting for either one of them to get together because I just don’t believe that it’s a real HEA. Possibly, if there would’ve been a change in Callen sooner I could say differently, but there were things about Dawn I didn’t like either. They were both incredibly selfish characters.

I also feel like at the beginning of the book, some of the dialogue was a bit stiff.

I loved bill white sr. He was the bright spot of the book, & I think that Gemma was also great.

I loved this book! Just a Fling far exceeded my expectations, and was a poignant story that skillfully navigated tough topics. I will definitely be recommending this book to others!

I really loved this book, the story was great and I really liked the characters. But there was also some things that I disliked, I didn't really like the way the past came into the story and I really wished Callan worked on his issues before doing all of this to Dawn.

"Summer Seduction" by Katherine Grace is a steamy second chance romance that will keep you hooked until the very end. Dawn Mathison and Callan Marlowe's summer romance was supposed to be just a fling, but they quickly found themselves falling for each other. However, Callan's commitment issues got in the way, and he broke Dawn's heart.

Fast forward to the present, and both Dawn and Callan have moved on with their lives. But when fate brings them back together, the chemistry between them is still as strong as ever. The author does a great job of building up the tension between the two characters, making the reader root for them to finally get together.

The characters are well-developed and likable, with their flaws and vulnerabilities adding depth to the story. The writing is descriptive and engaging, with plenty of steamy scenes to satisfy romance fans.

Overall, "Summer Seduction" is a fun and entertaining read that delivers on its promise of a sizzling romance. The story is well-paced, with just the right amount of drama and conflict to keep the reader engaged. If you're in the mood for a steamy second chance romance, this book is definitely worth checking out.

Okayyyyyy I'll admit I'm getting into contemporary romance and it's thawing my icy heart.

The cover art doesn't do it for me, but the description lured me in. I'm kind of a sucker for the second chance trope. Admittedly, this book took a long time for me to finish. I started off with the first 10 chapters and put it down for several weeks before I picked it up again. It was around chapter 18 when I finally got really interested.

Callan not explaining his situation to Dawn was incredibly frustrating, like I wanted to just grit my teeth and yell TALK TO HER.

But all in all, I'd give it a solid 3 ⭐

Many thanks to NetGalley and The Wild Rose Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.